Whistling-top



Nu..625,|2l. Patented May l6, I899. M. L. POWERS.

WHISTLING TOP.

(Application filed June 28, 1897.)

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATE T @FFIcE.

' MICHAEL L. POWERS, or ORANGE, MASSACHUSETTS.

WHISTLING-TOP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent Noi 625,121, datedMay 16, 1899.

Application filed June 28, 1897. $erial No. M2694. (No model.)

T 0. whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MICHAEL L. POWERS, of Orange, in the county of Franklin and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new Improvement in lVhistling-Tops; and I do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, and which said drawings constitute part of this specification, and represent, in-

in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2, a

top view of the same; Fig. 3, a horizontal sectional view on line 00a: of Fig. 1; Fig. 4, a vertical section; Fig. 5, perspective views of the reed, washer, and cap adapted to be used in lieu of the reed. Y

This invention relates to an improvement in spinning-tops, and particularly to such as are provided with whistles or reeds, so that as the top revolves a current of air will circle through the top and create a tone. In tops of this character the sounding device is usu- 2 5 ally exposed in the upper end, so that it is liable to be struck and thereby damaged.

Difficulty is also found in permanently securing the sounding device in the top, and in removing so much material as is necessary to -0 create an air-chamber the top becomes too light at the upper end.

The object of this invention is to overcome these difficulties; and it consists in the construction as hereinafter described, and particularly recited in the claim.

The top, which may be formedin one or two pieces, as desired, consists of a body A of desired form and provided at its lower end with a peg B in the usual manner. Transversely 0 through the largest diameter of the body is an opening 0, which intersects a vertical opening D, which extends downward from the upper end, the outer end of the opening D being enlarged to form an annular shoulder cl. 5 Upon this shoulder is placed a reed E of usual construction or other sound-producin g device, and over this device is placed a washer F, formed with an opening f, through which the reed or whistle-opening is exposed. Into the This cap is formed sufficiently heavy to compen= sate for the amount of material removed in forming the transverse and vertical passages, and being comparatively thick withstands any blow or force which is liable to be applied to the upper end of the top and thoroughly protects the sounding device therein.

If desired, the top may be formed in two parts and thechamber formed in the upper portion, although, as shown, the device is readily formed from a single piece. Figure 1, a side view of a top constructed.

It'will be understood that the sounding device is operated by air being drawn through the chamber by the revolution of the top, which is started in motion by a string in the the usual manner for spinning tops. I

I am aware of United States Patents Nos. 11,187 and 191,701, which show tops having transverse and intersecting vertical openings and sounding devices in said vertical openings, and therefore do not wish to be under- The combination with a top formed with a transverse opening, andwith a vertical central opening extending upward from said transverse opening through the upper end of the top, the outer end of the said vertical opening enlarged whereby an annular shoulder is formed in said opening, of a sounding device seated on the said shoulder, a washer corresponding in diameter to the opening at the upper end of the top, and adapted to rest upon the sounding device, said washer having a central opening through which the sounding device is exposed, and a shallow cap comprising a plate having a central perforation and an annular flange corresponding in. di-

ameter to the diameter of the recess in the upper end of the top into which said flange closely fits and so as to rest upon the washer, and whereby the said washer and sounding device are held in position and the sounding device protected and the top balanced, substantially as described. In testimony whereof I have signed thi specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

. MICHAEL L. POWERS.- Witnesses:

FRED W. CURTIS, WALTER M. WRIGHT. 

